Protesters set ablaze a government vehicle at Nungpung, electricity office and the handloom and textile departments at Hamrem, the police said on Friday. They were demanding unconditional release of Karbi Students’ Association president Laiseng Engleng.
The police had arrested Mr Engleng and seven of his associates on charges of inciting violence on Thursday night.
Angry protesters also removed six kilometres of railway tracks in the Diphu-Lumding section. Train services between Upper and Lower Assam have been paralysed with major trains controlled at Dimapur and Lumding, the police said.
ABSU president Pramod Boro, who is leading the agitation for separate Bodoland, told this newspaper that turn out of people to enforce 12-hour rail bandh was enough for the government to take note of their demand for a separate Bodoland. Asserting that they will continue to struggle for Bodoland, Mr Boro said, “We would like to warn the government to refrain from resorting to police action on people fighting for their democratic rights.”
Claiming that their agitation was completely peaceful, Mr Boro said, “Any attempt to crush the movement by using police force may have serious fallout and security forces will not be able to contain it.”